Followers of horror video games have been on a roll these days with varied survival horror behemoths pivoting away from motion horror and returning to the style’s terrifying roots. Moreover, many modern indie titles have had their ft firmly planted in horror and have been round ever since.
2025 was an extremely sturdy 12 months for horror video games (regardless of being snubbed a number of occasions at The Sport Awards), and 2026 seems set to observe the identical development. There are a ton of horror video games coming in 2026, and followers of the style (like me) are completely buzzing with pleasure.
With the beginning of a brand new 12 months, now could be pretty much as good a time as ever to check out what’s developing and fill your wishlist. It is a strong mix of each AAA and indie video games, all with distinctive concepts and equal quantities of intrigue.
Both manner, we’re excited to see the way you proceed to get pleasure from every new launch.
This listing solely options video games with a confirmed launch date in 2026, or no less than a confirmed launch month. Video games that don’t have a transparent date listed (together with video games that merely listing “2026” or “TBD 2026” as their launch date) won’t be talked about as they could have been postponed, canceled, or produce other obstacles that would change their remaining launch date.
17
pathological 3
Already launched: January ninth
To date, solely one among these horror video games has already been launched and that’s Pathologic 3, which was launched on January ninth.
Very like earlier Pathologic video games, you play the function of a health care provider looking for a treatment for the city’s plague whereas protecting your self alive earlier than everybody runs out of time. Nonetheless, new and distinctive mechanics had been launched as further means resembling time journey.
The sport has loads of detective work for many who love the artwork of deduction, nevertheless it’s additionally darkish and gritty sufficient to maintain gamers in a state of tension. I have never had an opportunity to play this recreation myself but, however those that have performed the sport have a tendency to return away with a satisfying expertise, claiming it is a fantastic sequel to the sequence.
Or, in case you’re trying to wait in your favourite content material creator to react to this recreation and take a look at fixing it in your personal leisure, there isn’t any disgrace, as a result of watching another person remedy an issue is simply as enjoyable.
16
ninth channel
Launch date: January twenty ninth
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developer |
saikat fats |
|---|---|
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Writer |
soedesco |
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platform |
PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X/S |
Subsequent up (and shortly) is Channel 9, which seems to have an identical really feel to George Orwell’s 1984. It depicts a corrupt authorities and egocentric humanity in a hostile world of its personal making. You play as Michael J. Jones, who has simply woken up from a automobile accident and has to seek out his mates from there.
The sport focuses on stealth, and gamers should fastidiously navigate the surroundings in the event that they need to preserve the absolute best odds of survival. Moreover, emphasis is positioned on stock administration and different strategic strategies, which means that survival just isn’t solely a take a look at of power, but additionally a take a look at of resourcefulness.
It additionally appears to be dipping its toe into the FPS style (no less than from what we are able to see). As such, that is prone to be an attention-grabbing hybrid of genres that encourages fast responses.
15
afraid of time loops
Launch date: January thirtieth
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developer |
taco eater |
|---|---|
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Writer |
Taco Eaters, Playway |
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platform |
laptop |
Video video games with strict deadlines usually are not a brand new idea, however incorporating them right into a recreation all the time creates rigidity and anxiousness. It is much more intense in horror video games.
in Fearing a time loop, you play Sheriff James Cooper, who slowly bleeds out. And it is as much as you to unravel the case earlier than it leaves the loss of life coil. It is much like Outer Wilds in that you simply begin out of your present location after a sure period of time (quarter-hour), and it’s important to take what you discovered in your earlier life and apply it to the way you method your present life.
It appears to have all of the survival horror staples: intricate puzzles, brutal monsters, and even a wide range of dialogue choices, all of which match properly into a novel Metroidvania.
Actually, that is actually cool. Video games like this make me want I had a gaming PC, however till then I simply hope this recreation involves PlayStation 5.
14
I hate this place
Launch date: January thirtieth
Video games that emphasize model over realism have a particular place in my coronary heart, and the upcoming I Hate This Place oozes model immediately, proper right down to the cartoonish sound results while you stroll round. It has been described as “a fusion of ’80s vibes and comedian e-book aptitude,” and it appears to suit that aesthetic completely.
In “I Hate This Place” you’ll have to scavenge for supplies with the intention to craft varied weapons and objects. That is important to outlive all of the enemies you’ll encounter, particularly in the course of the day/night time cycle when the horrors are at full show. Plus, it’s important to sneak round and profit from the sound, making it a horror recreation the place sporting headphones is completely important.
The sport has a demo model out there for many who need to attempt it out, however in case you’re like me and need to keep away from the demo model and simply play the sport correctly, that is high quality. Fortunately, you do not have to attend too lengthy.
13
The destroyed fact
Launch date: January thirtieth
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developer |
devoid studio |
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Writer |
devoid studio |
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platform |
laptop |
Many survival horror video games take direct inspiration from Resident Evil, however not many video games take inspiration from the Noticed films on the similar time. And Perished Fact goals to be a direct intersection of those two IPs. It continues to be impressed by the classics, with fastened digital camera angles and fashionable management schemes.
In Perished Fact, you play a person named Shinji Ueda who has simply misplaced his spouse, however sadly his daughter is affected by the identical incurable illness that killed her. Decided to not let her undergo the identical destiny, you find yourself on the darkish net and encounter one thing you by no means anticipated.
The primary act will likely be launched by itself and is alleged to have roughly 6-8 hours of gameplay, with further acts from there to be up to date without cost upon completion. As for when that may occur, it would in all probability be inside the 12 months.
12
Pinewood Valley
Launch date: February thirteenth
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developer |
chilly chop studio |
|---|---|
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Writer |
chilly chop studio |
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platform |
laptop |
February begins in Pinewood Valley. The story is a few man who returns to his hometown and discovers a brand new evil lurking there, a bunch of twisted serial killers. It is as much as you to determine it out, cease it, and save your homeland.
This hometown is an open world the place varied different survivors are attempting to outlive from a bunch of killers identical to you. These serial killers are described as a lineup, every with distinctive skills and looking types that hold the gameplay from changing into monotonous or repetitive.
Though you may have a wide range of weapons, the sport encourages you to decide on your battles, permitting you to run, cover, or struggle from varied encounters that it’s important to make it out alive.
This seems like a compact, small however highly effective recreation, and I am curious the way it will steadiness horror in an open world.
11
Welcome to Doll City
Launch date: February thirteenth
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developer |
unhealthy want recreation |
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Writer |
unhealthy want recreation |
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platform |
laptop |
There’s clearly one thing particular about Japanese horror video games, and Silent Hill F is the newest to hit the stage. So I used to be actually excited to study that “Welcome to Dolltown” will not be leaving the world anytime quickly. Because the title suggests, you discover a cursed city inhabited by life-like dolls.
However this city has loads of secrets and techniques so that you can uncover whereas being totally amazed by the Japanese countryside. Whereas it isn’t acknowledged anyplace that this recreation takes direct inspiration from Silent Hill, it does appear to take some inspiration, no less than when it comes to aesthetics.
It has been described as a “chilling love story,” and we are able to solely eagerly anticipate what precisely meaning.
10
resuscitation
Launch date: February thirteenth
The creators of the primary two Little Nightmares video games have a transparent and moody imaginative and prescient for the way to method horror video games: deep shadows, dramatic lighting, and excellent environment. Reduce to the announcement of Reanimal, the place we get to see a totally completely different (however equally grotesque) world, and the hype was fast.
At first look, the sport seems to retain all the things we cherished concerning the developer’s earlier work, whereas additionally permitting for brand new and inventive visions for an unforgettable expertise. From what little we have seen to date, this recreation appears to be hauntingly lovely, childlike, quirky, and but utterly unsettling.
I am actually wanting ahead to seeing how their new recreation pans out, particularly because the builders are totally dedicated to Reanimal. The primary Little Nightmares had an air of purity about it, and Reanimal is shaping as much as be much like that.
Both manner, I do know the standard will likely be nice.
9
infinite love
Launch date: February nineteenth
Video video games had been born out of platformers, so it is no shock that platformers mix nicely with different genres, together with horror. Within the case of the upcoming LOVE ETERNAL, it is a horror platformer the place you navigate a haunted fort crammed with “bittersweet reminiscences.” From the title, you’ll be able to solely guess what it means.
In LOVE ETERNAL, we play as a toddler named Maya who’s taken away from her household by a egocentric and malevolent goddess who retains us imprisoned as her playthings. It is as much as us to seek out our manner residence
As you progress via the high-precision platformer, the sport reveals you’ll be able to converse with varied characters and piece collectively what is going on on within the background. I like good layered storytelling, so this mechanically intrigues me.
Be ready for what looks like a wholesome quantity of trial and error.
8
Resident Evil: Requiem
Launch date: February twenty seventh
Everybody has a recreation they’re most wanting ahead to in 2026, however for me, I am extremely enthusiastic about Resident Evil Requiem. I grew up taking part in the traditional Resident Evil and Silent Hill video games, so I’ve a sense Requiem will likely be one other deal with contemplating how a lot I’ve loved the newest installments of each sequence.
In “Resident Evil: Requiem,” she performs Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from “Resident Evil: Outbreak.” She returns to Raccoon Metropolis to seek out out what occurred to her mom. It was additionally not too long ago revealed that we’ll truly be taking part in as Leon S. Kennedy as nicely.
The sport additionally guarantees new and distinctive considering zombies and crafting mechanics. Moreover, as a result of Grace is realistically afraid, that concern is well transferred to us, making the scenario much more tense and anxiety-inducing.
In any case, expectations are excessive for future developments.